Agenda item

To find out more about the forthcoming changes to waste collection services.

Martin Litherland, Head of Waste Collection, will present this item.

Martin Litherland, Head of Waste Collection, gave a presentation regarding forthcoming changes to the waste collection service.

·         Changes were being made to ensure that all residents have the same level of service.  It was also important to recycle more and landfill less.

·         Landfill tax will rise to £80 per tonne by 2014.

·         Following a public consultation in the summer of 2010 72% of those taking part were in favour of the new service.

·         In 2010/11 242,000t of waste was produced in Wiltshire.

·         41.1% of household waste in Wiltshire is recycled.

·         37.5% of waste goes to landfill.

·         58,000t of household waste goes to energy from waste.

·         Over 1,900t of black box materials recycled a month.

·         Over 700t of plastic bottles and cardboard are recycled each month .with over 210t from North Wiltshire residents.

The new service would be:

·         Forecasts show that this will achieve a recycling rate of 50%.

·         Over 38,500 residents have asked to receive the new non-chargeable garden waste collection service.

·         Those residents that opted in before December 2011 will receive their new green lidded bins from 30 January 2012.

·         Collections start from 5 March 2012 and collection calendars will be sent to all residents.

·          If you have not yet signed up but want to receive this new service you can opt-in now. You can opt-in online, by calling the council or by completing an opt-in form and sending it to the council.

·          If you already receive a collection of garden waste or you have already signed up you do not have to re-apply.

·         Fortnightly household waste collections start from 5 March 2012.

·         A collection calendar and leaflet will be sent in February to advise on changes and revised collection dates.

·         All bins and boxes must be presented before 7am.

·         All waste must be contained in the bin with lids closed.

·         Additional bin capacity will be made available to those residents with large families (5 or more) or with medical conditions.

·         Residents struggling to fit all their waste in their bin can contact the council and in some cases a bigger bin issued.

·         An assisted collection is a service available to residents who find it difficult to put their household waste, recycling and garden waste at the edge of their property for collection.

·         Alternative containers may be agreed where, in the opinion of the council, the storage space or access to/from the pointof collection of the property is not suitable for wheeled bins.

There was then an opportunity to ask questions:

(1)  Would there be any alternative to wheeled bins e.g. skips?

Research has shown that skips do not work very well in this country and that those properties located near to the skips tended to be adversely affected.

(2)  Now that recycling is up and running could we change the language used to make it more understandable to the general public?

It was agreed that we should do our best to ensure that the language used is as easy to understand as possible.

(3)  Would there be an opportunity in the future to recycle other plastics in addition to bottles?  For example yoghurt pots and fast food containers.

Currently there is a market for plastic bottles but not such a good market in the UK for other plastics.  However, the situation would continue to be monitored.  By being clear about only recycling plastic bottles contamination was avoided.

(4)  What happens to the garden waste?

This is generally composted and the good quality compost sold.

(5)  Would the “bring sites” remain?

The need for these sites was currently being monitored with local needs being assessed.